Tray carrying conveyer



May 17, 1932. R. D. DELAMERE TRAY CARRYING CONVEYER Filed March 11, 19292 Sheets-Sheet In Mentor. Rude/f flzic/qm' re May 17, 1932. R. D.DELAMERE TRAY CARRYING CONVEYER Filed March 11, 1929 2 Sheets-SheetPatented May 17, 1932 UNI'RED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUDOLF D. DELAMERE,OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOB T DELAMERE AND WILLIAMS, LIMITED,01 TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA TRAY CARRYING CONVEYEB.

Application filed March 11, 1929. Serial No. 346,209.

l ple, smooth action which will not be likely to dislodge dishes orother articles carried on the trays.

A-further object is to provide an elevator, which will conduct theloaded trays efficient- -0 ly and safety from one elevation to another.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novelconstruction of a guide for the elevator chains and the tray carryingmembers whereby the trays are conducted between smooth vertical wallsand are transferred to a horizontal conveyer without interrupting themovement of the vertical conveyer and maintaining the tray in a levelposition throughout its movement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevational View of ourimproved elevator and transverse transfer member.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View in horizontal section through thevertical conveyer.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional perspective detail of a portion of thevertical con veyer casing showing a portion of the conveyer chains andtray supporting member in part sectional detail.

Figure 4 is an enlarged and elevational view of the transverse carrier.

Figure?) is an elevational view on a reduced scale showing anarrangement of horizontal carriers placed at difierent levels toco-operate with a vertical carrier.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational de-= in their passage to avoidunauthorized handling of their contents.

In carrying this invention into effect a pair of vertical casings 1 and2 are i lled in a structure spaced apart by the horizontal spacing rods3.

The casings 1 and 2 are preferably formed of metal plates 4 bent intoU-shape. These are arranged vertically and spaced apart and between theflanged sides thereof are arranged the flat vertical plates 5, saidplates 5 being spaced from the flanges of the U plates to form thevertical slots 6.

Flanged channel-shaped plates 7 are secured on the inner sides oftheflanges of the plates 4 and 5 to support said plates rigidly tomaintain the vertical slots 6.

Horizontally arranged shafts 8 and 9 are arranged respectively at thetop and bottom of each of the vertical casings 1 and 2. These shaftscarry sprocket wheels 10 arranged to align with the vertical slots 6 andendless chain belts 11 are mounted on the sprockets to travel in thechannels formed by the plates 7.

At spaced intervals in the length of the chain belts 11 there arearranged links 12 which have squared lugs 13 which project through thevertical slots and are provided withthreaded holes 14 into which bolts15 are threaded.

The lug-carrying links 12 are arranged in common horizontal planes andangle bars 16 are secured by the bolts 15 to each of the adj acent pairsof lugs 13, said angle bars being thus arranged in horizontal pairs withthe horizontal flanges thereof forming tables to receive the side edgesof the trays that are to be carried.

The chain belts 11 are driven by a motor 17 through a suitablearrangement of gears 17' The space between the. vertical casings 1 I and2 is open at two sides but may be of course closed for the entire lengthof the carrier if desired,1oropenings may be left therefrom the in foraccess tothe interior where the trays are movin In theiagramgeillustr'ation of Fi re 1 there is an opening atithe to end of te vertical casing givin access to t e space between thernto permit t ewithdrawal of the trays elevator formed by the travelling belts.

It is desirable that trays or packages arriving at the top of theelevator be automatically removed and either deposited or carried theframe in the same horizontal plane as the shafts 19 and carry thesprockets 21. v

A pair'of chain belts 22 are arranged upon theforward setof sprockets 20and a pair of chainbelts'23 are arran ed upon the other set of sprockets21 and t e sets of sprockets are connected to operate in unison.

A pair of long fiat arms 24 are pivotally supported about mid-way oftheir length on pin extensions 25 from the chain belts 22 and the ends26 of said arms are pivotally supported on the pin extensions 27 fromthe chain belt 23.

The pin extensions 25 and 27 are so arranged in relation to thesprockets 20 and 21 that they travel always a uniform distance apart andcarry the arms 24 horizontally and when the arms move towardthe elevatorthey progress at the underside of the sprockets and extend into theelevator between the vertical casings 1 and 2 and as the pins carryingthe arms swing around the end sprockets the arms lift upwardlyunderneath the trays and lift the trays from the vertical carrier andthe progressive movement of the chain belts 22 and 23 carries the traysclear of the elevator structure.

The sprockets 20 and 21 are driven by a centrally arranged chain belt 28carried in the frame 18 and engaging sprockets mounted on the, shafts19.

The belt 28 is carried along the frame 18 any desirable distance and itsupper reach slides upon a horizontal support 29 forming part of theframe 18.

This chain is guided by the upwardly projecting edges 30 of the plates31 which form thecentral part of the frame structure.

The chain belt 28 is provided with lug extensions 32 which are adaptedto engage the trays and push them horizontally along the frame.

. Horizontal skids 33 are arranged at either side of the frame tosupport the trays and longitudinal side guides 34 are carried by theside bars 35 of the frame. These guides endesirable to use lateral.carriers at different" floors. Such an arrangement is illustrated in thediagrammatic view shown in Figure 5, where lateral horizontal carriersare arranged at both sides of the elevators and in such a manner thattrays may be lifted from the elevators to be conducted in eitherdirection horizontally therefrom at any floor. Y

The lateral carriers arranged at opposite sides of the elevator maytravel in opposite directions but each is provided with a pair oflifting arms 24 adapted to extend in underneath a tray carried by theelevator. I

- In operating a system in which a plurality of lateral conveyers arearranged in conjunction with a vertical conveyer such as shown in Figure5, it will of course be necessary to arrange some form of control whichwill regulate the lateral elevators to' operate at the proper period inharmony with the vertical earner.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a tray 36- provided with a plurality ofswitch operating elements in the form of hinged arms 37 These arms whenswung to the outward side of the tray each present an obstruction memberwhich will in the course of travel of the elevator engage the projectingshoe 38 of a switch member 39.

The switch members are electrically connected with suitable electricallyoperated mechanisms for throwing the lateral conveyer into operation inunison with the vertical conveyer so that the lifting arms will removethe tray therefrom. If desired, the switch member may be made to operatea signal and if the tray is not removed from the elevator a secondswitch may be arranged to stop the elevator.

In a system such as illustrated in Figure 5, the trays will he providedwit-h a number of signal operating arms 37 corresponding with the numberof lateral carriers and the operator in placing the trays will set theproper arm so that it will operate the proper switch at a time set withthe operation of the elevator so that the horizontal arms 24 of thelateral carrier will operate as the tray is carried past the horizontalcarrier, said arms operating to lift the tray clear of the'verticalcarrier and deposit it on the horizontal member.

It must be understood that the arrangement herein shown is onlydiagrammatic and that any suitable form of switch operating mechanismmay be arranged so that any one of the lateral conveyers may be operatedata desired period to lift trays from the elevator or so that theelevator may be arrested at any desired point to permit the removal oftrays by hand.

Further, the illustration and description an elevator and in conjunctionwith it a means 'for transferring trays carried thereon to a horizontalcarrier. It must be understood, however, that the invention may beapplied to utilizing a horizontal carrier in connection with a loweringdevice, wherein the horizontal member will pick the trays from thehorizontal carrier belt and carry them in between vertical memberssimilar to 1 and 2 and deposit them upon. the bars 16 of bolts operatingin a downward direction.

A device such as described is flexible in its application, it may beinstalled as a simple elevator to carry trays up or down. It may beprovided with switch contacts to give signals when trays are approachingcertain predetermined points and to operate stop switches, and it may bearranged in operating harmony with one or more horizontal car-' riers,all of which are contemplated in the use of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a vertical conveyer, ahorizontal conveyer extending from said vertical conveyer, a pair ofarms adapted to extend into the path of operation of said verticalconveyer in a horizontal position, and means for moving said armsin-unison with an orbital movement in parallel relation to a fixedhorizontal plane to lift the tray from the vertical conveyer and carryit outwardly therefrom in a horizontal position and deposit it on thehorizontal conveyer.

2. A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a pair of vertical conveyershaving tray supporting members, a horizontal conveyer extending fromsaid vertical conveyers, two pairs of horizontally arranged chain beltsplaced at one side of the horizontal conveyer, arms each mountedintermediate of their length on one of said chain belts having one endsupported by the adjacent and co-operating chain belts in a horizontalpositlon, the ends of said arms being adapted to extend between thevertical carriers and being adapted to engage the trays and carry samelaterally and deposit them on said horizontal conveyer.

3. A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a pair of vertical conveyermembers spaced apart and having tray supporting members thereon, aplurality of horizontal conveyers arranged adjacent to said verticalconveyers and each having horizontal extensible members adapted to carrythe trays from the vertical conveyer, means for operating saidhorizontal tray-lifting members in unison with said vertical conveyer,switch members arranged in the vertical conveyer shafts adapted tocontrol the operation of said extensible horizontal tray lifting means,and means arranged upon the trays being carried fpr operating saidswitch members selectlvely v u, a 4- ,A y wr y s ehv r; co p i n pa a;.em y v ca i ri or a s am conveyer belts operating in said [casingshaving tray supporting 'members cgoperatin fin',

said shaft, horizontal conveyers. extending. from either side of, saidshaft, means co-opcrating with said horizontal conveyers adapt ed toextend into saidshaft 'to engage the trays carried by the verticalconveyer and, carry them outward from the shaft and'deposit them on thehorizontal conveyers, electrically controlled means for operating saidhorizontal conveyers and their co-operating tray-en aging members,switches arranged in the s aft adapted to effect the operation of saidcontrol means, and selectible members arranged, upon the trays to becarriedv adapted to selectively operatesaid electric switches in thecourse of the vertical travel of the trays.

5, A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a pair of vertical guide wallshaving their inner surfaces arranged in spaced parallel planes, saidguide walls being each slotted longitudinally, chain belts operatinglongitudinally of said slots and disposed on the outward side of saidguide walls, said chains having members extending inwardly through saidguide wall slots, tray supporting members supported by said chainextensions on the inward side of said guide walls, flanged channelmembers enclosing the chain belts on the outer side of said guide wallsand having their flange portions rigidly secured to the latter andsupporting the same at the slots.

6. A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a vertical conveyer, ahorizontal conveyer, extending from said vertical conveyer, a pair ofarms adapted to extend into the path of operation of said verticalconveyer, operable means supporting said arms in a horizontal position,said operable means imparting a horizontal and vertical displacement tosaid arms to effect the transference of the trays from the verticalconveyer to the horizontal conveyer.

7. A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a vertical conveyer, ahorizontal conveyer extending from said vertical conveyer, a pair ofarms, means for operating said arms in parallel relation to a fixedhorizontal plane with a longitudinal movement whereby they extend intoand out of the path of said vertical conveyer said means imparting anupward displacement to said arms at one end of their longitudinal stroketo lift a tray from said vertical conveyer and imparting a downwarddisplacement to said arms at the other end of their longitudinal stroketo deposit the tray on said horizontal conveyer, and means for operatingsaid operating means in timed relation to said vertical conveyer.

8. A tray carrying conveyer, comprising a vertical conveyer, ahorizontal conveyer extending fromsaid vertical conveyer, a pair.

of operable arms supported in a horizontal position adapted to extendinto the path of operation of said vertical conveyer, means fordisplacing said horizontal arms in unison in orbital movement to liftsaid trays from the vertical conveyer and carry the same in a horizontalposltion in a direction longitudinally of said arms clear of thevertical conveyer, said arms in their movement being adapted to lowersaid trays at the end of their outward longitudinal movement to depositthe trays on said horizontal conveyer.

9. A tray carrying member comprising spaced. vertical endless conveyershaving means thereon for supporting trays therebetween, :1 horizontalconveyer arranged adjacent to said vertical conveyers, and a memberoperating with an orbital movement and intermittently extending betweenmeans adapted to be intermittently projected between said verticalconveyers lifting upwardly-moving trays therefrom and depositing them onsaid horizontal conveyer.

RUDOLF D. DELAMERE.

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